Alex Davidson

Alex Davidson is a cinema curator at the Barbican, a former programmer for JW3 and a former curator for the BFI National Archive. He has written for a variety of film publications, both at the BFI and beyond, and given cinema talks and presentations across the UK. His specialism is queer cinema and television.

All articles by Alex Davidson

Reviews

On the Sea: Two fishermen explore their desires in Helen Walsh’s sensitive drama

Set in a Welsh fishing community, Walsh’s low-budget queer romance traces a tender, risky affair shaped by illness, family duty and the pressures of tradition.

By Alex Davidson

On the Sea: Two fishermen explore their desires in Helen Walsh’s sensitive drama

Lists

40 hidden gems of LGBTQIA+ cinema

By Alex Davidson, Grace Barber-Plentie and others

40 hidden gems of LGBTQIA+ cinema

Reviews

Plainclothes: a gay policeman goes undercover in Carmen Emmi’s tense directorial debut

By Alex Davidson

Plainclothes: a gay policeman goes undercover in Carmen Emmi’s tense directorial debut

Reviews

The Wedding Banquet: a satisfying reimagining of the 1993 classic

By Alex Davidson

The Wedding Banquet: a satisfying reimagining of the 1993 classic

Interviews

James Ivory on his career with Ismail Merchant: “There are a lot of films we made that people don’t really know about today”

By Alex Davidson

James Ivory on his career with Ismail Merchant: “There are a lot of films we made that people don’t really know about today”

Interviews

“I think Istanbul is a place queer people gravitate to”: Director Levan Akin on Crossing

By Alex Davidson

“I think Istanbul is a place queer people gravitate to”: Director Levan Akin on Crossing

10 great

10 great LGBTQIA+ break-up films

By Alex Davidson

10 great LGBTQIA+ break-up films

Reviews

The Lost Boys: a kind and tender gay love story

By Alex Davidson

The Lost Boys: a kind and tender gay love story

Features

2022: the year in queer cinema

By Alex Davidson

2022: the year in queer cinema

Reviews

Where is Anne Frank: a warm, uncynical tribute to victims of persecution

By Alex Davidson

Where is Anne Frank: a warm, uncynical tribute to victims of persecution

Reviews

Swan Song: a disappointing outing for Udo Kier

By Alex Davidson

Swan Song: a disappointing outing for Udo Kier

Best of 2021

2021: the year in queer cinema

By Alex Davidson

2021: the year in queer cinema

Reviews

Flee is an astonishing animated portrait of a young refugee

By Alex Davidson

Flee is an astonishing animated portrait of a young refugee

Reviews

A Brixton Tale follows a filmmaker crossing the line between inspiration and exploitation

By Alex Davidson

A Brixton Tale follows a filmmaker crossing the line between inspiration and exploitation

Reviews

The Most Beautiful Boy in the World counts the personal cost of international fame

By Alex Davidson

The Most Beautiful Boy in the World counts the personal cost of international fame

Reviews

Cowboys rides all guns blazing into its transgender childhood story

By Alex Davidson

Cowboys rides all guns blazing into its transgender childhood story

Reviews

Sequin in a Blue Room odysseys through a Lynchian queer underworld

By Alex Davidson

Sequin in a Blue Room odysseys through a Lynchian queer underworld

Reviews

It’s a Sin is a love letter to 1980s gay culture – and hate mail to the era’s homophobic hegemony

By Alex Davidson

It’s a Sin is a love letter to 1980s gay culture – and hate mail to the era’s homophobic hegemony

10 great

10 great Christmas films

By Josephine Botting, Sarah Currant and others

10 great Christmas films

Features

Björk on film: Grimm fairytales, whaling missions and Cannes glory

By Alex Davidson

Björk on film: Grimm fairytales, whaling missions and Cannes glory

Features

Why do we treat serial killers’ gay victims as dramatically disposable?

By Alex Davidson

Why do we treat serial killers’ gay victims as dramatically disposable?

Reviews

Welcome to Chechnya review: exodus from a burning closet

By Alex Davidson

Welcome to Chechnya review: exodus from a burning closet

Interviews

“A warm embrace rather than a punch in the stomach”: Levan Akin on his queer Georgian love story And Then We Danced

By Alex Davidson

“A warm embrace rather than a punch in the stomach”: Levan Akin on his queer Georgian love story And Then We Danced

Reviews

Buddies review: the original gay Aids drama is still one of the best

By Alex Davidson

Buddies review: the original gay Aids drama is still one of the best

Lists

6 to see at LFF if you like... LGBTQ+ cinema

By Alex Davidson

6 to see at LFF if you like... LGBTQ+ cinema

Features

Art against hate: queer cinema from repressive countries

By Alex Davidson

Art against hate: queer cinema from repressive countries

10 great

10 great LGBTQIA+ documentaries

By Alex Davidson

10 great LGBTQIA+ documentaries

10 great

10 great Canadian lesbian, gay and transgender films

By Alex Davidson

10 great Canadian lesbian, gay and transgender films

Features

Oscars so serious: why sidelining comedies at the Academy Awards isn’t funny

By Alex Davidson

Oscars so serious: why sidelining comedies at the Academy Awards isn’t funny

Lists

50 films and TV series to see in 2019

By Henry Barnes, Alex Davidson and others

50 films and TV series to see in 2019